Cuban defector Eliecer Castillo shocked betting favorite Lawrence Clay-Bey with a stunning inside right uppercut during the closing seconds of round nine, and dropped the curtain on what had been more a gym sparring session than a battle for a berth for some club-fight heavyweight bauble.

And if Clay-Bey never knew what dropped him flat on his back, the viewers as well, needed a "do-over" via the instant replay to appreciate the explosiveness of the delivery.

Until the one-punch knockout arrived, the Cuban port sider showed little punching power ... altho' he was credited with knockdown in round four after delivering a tapping straight left to the crockery that had Clay-Bey pretty much tripping himself up.

And so it went, a tit for tat affair thru eight candles of a close contest of sorts ... then the unexpected bomb that closed the show at 3-minute mark of nine.

Post script: See neither fighter as future heavyweight title threat ... Clay-Bey should call it a career at age 37 and toting around a chin of Pittsburgh Plate glass ... and Castillo not far behind ... much too stiff, slow, and erect in style, and guess is the eye-catching right was more by accident than design.

Veteran, and past bantam champ Harold Grey clearly outclassed a willing but limited Jose Quintana in a featherweight semi-final, to the unanimous tune of 97-92 on all cards.

Grey goes to 25-3 with 17 whacks with Quintana dropping to 11-3-2, 6 KOs ... Grey still has skills ... good jab, straight right and mixes up the attack ... but not nearly big enough puncher to claim any prizes at featherweight. Quintana has heart and good right-hand power but little else.

Card also included young Ben Dunne, undefeated novice from the ol' sod ... goes to seven wins with five by knockout after a first round blitzing of hapless Terrell Hargrove who dropped to 6-6 and 3 KOs ... smart move now for Hargrove is to change occupations ... kid has no future.

Semper fi,

GEL

06-06-03

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